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Hi, my name is:
Powdery Mildew
Describe yourself: Well, I'm a pretty fun guy (get it... pretty fungi!), and a real softy. I am white and powdery in appearance, hence the not very original name. When young, I look like tiny white circles, but I am a real fast mover.
Hobbies: Hanging out the uppersides of leaves, spreading really quickly, and occasional trips down the stem or to the undersides of leaves. Love a good spore when the temperature is right! Summer and autumn really get my motor running!
Likes: I love a humid night, you know the ones, when the temperature is about 15c. I especially like these after a warm day, it just makes me grow and spore! I love a light breeze... it makes my spores spread! Love a dry, warm, shady spot... do you know of one? Oh, and I love when you water leaves late in the afternoon... yeah baby, bring it on! Love most plants, especially pumpkin, cucumber, peas, roses, grapes, pawpaws, strawberries & apples.
Dislikes: Hate really wet weather, really low (or high) temperatures, full cream milk sprayed onto me, chamomile tea (yuck!), home made bi-carb remedy or store bought fungicides (like these ones).
You'll know you've met me when: Your older leaves are covered (especially on the upper surface) with whit powdery fur, young growth that is affected is generally pretty weird looking, and can turn yellow and die!
Old School Control Methods: Bayleton, Baycor, Mancozeb Plus
Breaking up ain't hard to do... if:
Don't water the leaves late in the afternoon
Pick up any fallen leaves and dispose of... don't compost!!!!
You don't overcrowd your plants, Powdery Mildew loves no air circulation
Don't overfeed plants with high nitrogen fertilisers... it's just bad news!
Make up a milk mix (about 1 parts full cream to 10 parts water) and spray it on affected plants. It won't prevent it but it will knock it right back!
Chamomile tea works a treat, just spray it on.
Try some store bought stuff, low environmental impact of course
Photographs:
Pic 1: wikipedia
Pic 2: www.avrdc.org
Pic 3: www.blugen.org Desc: Powdery Mildew conidia - How cool is that?
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